homegrowing

Daddy went shopping for clothing, a special occasion indeed!  Since he usually wears footie-jammies to church, today Judah and I played in the foyer with my camera while others were getting ready for Sunday School and our early departure.

We loaded the van and headed to church.   I hadn’t thought much past baths, fingernails, ears and clean clothes for this special Sunday.  The magnitude of significance of this weekend surfaced as we drove.   SIX years ago we traveled to this same sanctuary for a grieving Sunday morning service… Knowing we’d bury our boy in the earth the very next day.

Judah’s Baby Dedication service to be held on such a significant weekend… this day, another reminder of God’s faithfulness.  Another God-incidence, having been scheduled by the church spontaneously… but no accident on His divine calender.

“Hi!!!  Today is my very special day.  My family loves me so much, and is trusting God’s strength to raise me for His glory!”

Our new Pastor ordered the service in a special, refreshing and new way.   Irv introduced our family, shared the significance of the weekend, proclaimed God’s faithfulness to our family, and Judah helped with the microphone.

Pastor Matt  held Judah and prayed over him and our family.   Then sweetly gave us a rose and a children’s Bible for Judah.

I was greatly humbled… again.   My Little people were instructed to stand by Mommy and Daddy, smile, be quiet and still.   Not a habit, but in my parenting repertoire, I bribed promised them a few Mike’N-Ikes if they cooperated.   Well, we should have practiced with role playing at home, because Isaiah became nervous and couldn’t stand still.   He maneuvered around the pulpit, the steps, and settled into lying on his stomach on the stairs,  and then reaching and playing with the microphone on the stair while Pastor Matt was praying.   In front of the entire congregation.   We are one of the larger families in the church, and perhaps I imagine it, but it seems like people watch the dynamics of us a bit more?   I know to not be prideful about my parenting and focus on what other’s think, and I thought I was doing well in this area – but God humbled me again.  smile.

After the service, the children and I went to the Mother’s Room to discuss our experience.  One particular boy was quite upset and expressive to learn he was not receiving his candy blessing.  We chatted.   As we left the room and dispersed to our Sunday service locations,  a sweet Mama in the church came to me all cheery, and thanked me for being such an encouragement to her… as she was eaves dropping into the Mother’s Room to hear me dealing with the children receiving their blessings and consequences!  Humbled again, I thanked the Lord for humbling me and working in and through our family… dealing with my pride and sinful heart … all the while blessing someone else!!!

We attempted family photos.  These were the best… serious.    I’ve learned to not attempt family photos at the same time as another big event.  We were all dressed up and clean already, right?!?  I repeatedly try to do this, and I’m left with fun memories, but not a photo I want to display on the wall.

I love this photo of Eden looking back over the pew.  It captures her completely.

You like the pink binky?  We scoured the van to find a paci, and this is all we found!  I had forgotten we needed it to help keep his babbles to a minimum in the service.

The more children we are blessed with, and the more I parent, the more I realized my need for His strength, wisdom, and fruits of the Spirit!

Thanking God for Judah, and all of the Salisbury gang are asking for His blessing on us as we ‘do life’ together as sinners, striving to bring HIM glory and love one another.

Grief of Tucker overwhelms February with a foggy blur.   It lessens each passing year, but deep emotions seem to arise from the subconscious and continuously surprise me.   That’s grief.  Weird, and the result of loving much.

Last winter, I desired Judah to be born in March of 2011,  but God brought him forth February 24th.

I didn’t realize the gift of this birth date until recently,  as we closed February with thankfulness and joy for the gift of Judah.   No foggy blur concluding the month, but celebration.

Sick, sick, sick… would explain our winter months.    Not as a whole family unit simultaneously, but a continual turn of someone having something.

One evening when I was in bed early,  Isaiah thoughtfully shared his batman car and captain America.  “Mommy, if you lose them I won’t be mad.  It’s okay.”    That’s some four-year-old serious loving!

This  photo of me in bed, reflects my month.  Survival.  Sheets that needed washing and mismatched.  No pillowcase.  And a very tired Me!

Valentine’s Day we received a delightful package from Florida, thank-you Grammie and Grandpa!  While we wish you were here more,  we could feel your hugs from afar.    I love to receive packages in the mail, and I believe it is largely due to getting blessing packages from my Grandparents as a child.  Thanks for being fun and remembering us Grammie and Grandpa!!!

These photos are poor, but I love them.  The big boys joined me on errands and an outing to purchase some soccer equipment.  Hunter is sporting his new goalie shirt.  Hunter requested we go to Japanese Hibachi Grill for lunch, as Ving needed to see it himself, live in-person.   These boys were a riot.   Ving couldn’t eat anything due to his allergies,  except the large fries from Burger King we brought ourselves.   Ving laughed hysterically the entire time, LOUDLY!   I laughed so hard at their hilarity, that I cried tears.   Ving is a true example of loving the life that occurs around food, and not the food experience itself.  (Opposed to his mother who focuses on the food.)  He’s asked to go back multiple times, and even offered to pay his own money – for the food he can’t even eat!

After lunch, I ran into Kohls for a quick return.  Returning and thirsty,  I grabbed my soda bottle.  I’m thankful for the sense of touch, as the temperature of my bottle gave me a check.  Glad I didn’t guzzle.   BOYS!!!   In their defense,  they had strict instructions to not open the door for anyone, not even the police, until I returned.

Ah, Isaac.  This five-year-old is loving his schooling.   I’m in awe of the human mind and the blessing of teaching my Little’s to read.  I love it.

Rarely do I sneak away to do an activity with my Little boys.   This month we had a blast at Color Me Mine pottery and painting, where we attended a birthday party for a new sweet friend, Helina.   Lovely day.   Isaac painted a cereal bowl and Isaiah a truck bank.

I really am shocked that Judah has turned one.   He barely was a baby.   Birth to boy in seconds, it seems.   He’s running all around, climbing the couch, chairs, and any objects he can ascend and  have fun balancing on.   I’m nursing and he receives no other liquids other than mama-milk, aka NeeNee.  I love it.   I’ve nursed all seven babies, and each so different.   I am guilty with the first few of not appreciating the moments and treating it as only nutrition, weaning early with no big thoughts.   Nursing Isaac had some weird grieving and healing associated that I can’t articulate, but experienced in my being.  Judah, I just don’t want to stop.   Selfishly I like the extra calorie burning,  but it’s much more than that.  Not knowing if I’ll be given this blessing again, perhaps.  Or loving how he strokes and slides his own hair (or mine) through his pincher grasp at his finger tips. Ahhh.   I’m holding fast to the moments and trying to live in my NOW -  fully.

One night I took a bunch of awesome photos nursing with my iphone.   I can’t share the bestest ones with you, so this blurry one of him hiding under Tucker’s Taggie will have to do for now.   But I’ll share if you come over for tea… they are so cute….

My door is always open.

Mom repeatedly states she can’t believe a year has passed.  I’m ONE!   My first birthday party was super-duper fun.   The family surprised me in my bedroom with a good-morning, happy birthday song!   I beamed with specialness.   Dad brought me downstairs, and the kitchen was decorated with streamers!  I love streamers.

Ving planned a scavenger hunt, with clues and all.   Hunter made me a scroll birthday card.   All my posse gathered around as I opened my present from the family, my own car with a seatbelt!  I love seatbelts, they keep me safe when my brothers crash me around the house.

The hood of my car was filled with these cool spikey balls that light up.  Cool.

My mommy is totally fun.  She packed everyone up in the Salis-bus, which takes one hour because we have to do “clean up” first.  She drove us the museum for my birthday outing.    Since we are not aware of school winter breaks, we didn’t know the museum was at capacity,  which translates : mom might lose someone in the crowds,  so we drove back home.  However, my fun mommy brought a party home with us,  and the Hanley family came over.   We baked cupcakes,  Just. For. Me!  Well, I shared.

After our friends left, we did one of Mommy’s favorite things… quiet hour.   I like it too.    Mommy called the other Little boys into her room, to see the HUGE rainbow from one bottom to the other bottom.   It was beautiful.   Mommy told  us that is a special hug from God, a reminder of HIS amazing faithfulness… and extra sweet icing on the birthday-cake-day!

When Daddy returned home from work, I opened my present from Grammie and Grandpa from Florida.  MY OWN WAGON!!!! And it has seatbelts too!

Ving and Hunter had a soccer scrimmage after dinner.   Mommy wheeled me around in my stroller, as the other kids played iPad… I watched some too.

We came home and they sang to me again!  I just love that birthday song.  Specialness.

And… Of course, I had another cupcake…

The doctor reports my blood tests reveal very low vitamin D levels, perhaps contributing to my extreme fatigue and winter blahs.   I know it’s not pregnancy, nor lack of sleep.   Sunshine is the cure for this ailment!   Being that’s a rarity here and that the Sunshine State is v.e.r.y. far away,  I’ve opted for multiple vitamin D tablets daily.   Come sunshine days, I’ll have to alter my habits of 100spf baby sunscreen and exposing my skin from under my modest swim attire.

Until then,  if I can’t relocate to summer, I press on to pursue joy and enJOYment of where I am planted.  Bloom!

I’m grateful to report and capture these photo memories of one of the ways we are blessed to celebrate winter this cold and cloudy season.

Homeschool SNOW SPORTS!

A last minute Christmas gift blessing, we joined my dear friend and her homeschool group on Fridays at a local (50 minutes away) snowsports resort.   After 15-20 years of retirement, we totally fun mamas, adventured to the slopes and are having a blast!

The big boys started with snowboarding.  Each week, our group ticket includes a rental and a lesson.  We are learning much.

The boys began with bike helmets, but we soon upgraded for better protection of these precious brains.  Boys are crazy!

Last week Hubby joined us for his first official attempt.  He did awesome.  I was so excited to have him with us, that I didn’t take a photo!  Urgh.   I’m sure the boys have many photo memories etched in their hearts of their adventurous Dad on this special day.

Isaac came that day too – and I was amazed at how small his skis were.  Can you even see his skis balancing against mine in this picture?   At five, he skied from 10:30-4:30, and didn’t want to leave.

Here’s Isaac going up the ‘magic carpet’.    When I rode up with him, he informed me that I couldn’t load until I said a ‘wish’ at the motor box at the beginning of the belt ride.

“What?  A wish?”  I responded curiously.

“Yes, Mom, it is a magic carpet!”  He insisted.

After a short debriefing, we renamed it the prayer-wish spot.  He continuously cracks me up.

While he did learn to ‘pizza’ (2012 language),  and not ‘snowplow’ (1986 language), he preferred to go straight down the hill and then pizza at the end, or crash into the black pipe.

His report card from lesson #1 was fabulous.   His instructors encouraged him to take a second lesson, and he was eager.    His second report card, was BAD.    He was tired, and while the instructor asked him to follow her, he’s respond, “I don’t want to,” to everything she said.    And he’d go straight down the hill!    We had a Mommy meeting and appropriately apologized.   He stayed home this week… smile.

Hunter has been doing both snowboarding and skiing.   Both boys are progressing well.  We’ve enjoyed days with friends and family.   I’m loving the time with the big boys in the car and on the slopes.   I’m blessed and grateful to share life and our hearts together.   Lord willing we’ll do more in the future…

Yesterday morning while preparing for the slopes, I was praying in the shower.   Asking God to help me shine Him in this homeschool group of women I do not know.   To speak His name of Truth in their midst.  (There’s been some awkward moments.)   I didn’t realize my prayer was answered until I finished my last conversation of the day while packing up my potluck contribution.   Two ladies were asking me many questions about Tucker’s death,  and they repeatedly asked exact questions for which my only response was the name of Jesus and His faithfulness.   Awkwardness was palpably evident, and unbeknown-st to me my prayer was answered.  I am once again in awe of Jesus shining and His faithfulness.

Reminding myself to embrace my here and now, and BLOOM!

May the Lord bless you and keep you!  May His face SHINE upon you and give you peace,  whatever season you are in…  He is faithful.

Spring and summer of 2011 while I was praying over curriculum, activities, LEAH offerings, co-op groups and the million choices we have vying for our time in educating our children, words of a passing conversation in the church foyer adhered to my brain and heart.

From a mother a seasoned mother of 8 grown children…  “Darci, if  you ever have an opportunity to do Bible Quiz, do it.  I believe it’s the best investment of your time and energy as a homeschool mom,  to help your kids hide God’s Word in their hearts.”

Interestingly, Bible Quiz was not on my million-offerings-list I was praying over.   Nor did I know of any groups my boys could participate with.  God used her words to spur me to investigation.  After many emails,  God gave us Coach Tom.

Coach Tom.  Giving and serving.   Any child that wants help studying and memorizing God’s Word,  Coach Tom will help.  He has driven to my home weekly since September, to work with four very competitive and energetic boys for 2-3 hours during his work day.  He’s flexible, forgiving, and over accommodating.  He orchestrates the  Bible Quiz League and has been involved for 15ish years.  Treasures and rewards in Heaven for this saint.

My big boys and their two friends have been blessed.   They’ve studied and learned 150 fact and quotation questions this year.   Praise be to God, today they completed their last meet and were 12-0,  won first place as a team, and each placed in the top 10 quizzers.   They will move on to regionals in March to represent our district.   Please pray for them to sharpen their skills, their speed, master all 150 questions, be HUMBLE, and bring glory to the Lord in all they do.

At one point in the meet today I gave Ving a high-five and asked if he was having fun.  He responded, ” I LOVE THIS!”

I apologize that my phone photos aren’t the best, but they sure are better than none, and faster to blog than my DSLR.    Memories, not perfection, Darci… right?

We are still working on our sanctuary manners!!!

Thank you Lord:  for these souls,  for Your Holy Word, for Coach Alisa and Coach Tom, for friends, for JBQ, for all the servants that work hard to provide this opportunity for the kids, and ability to hide you Word in our hearts that we might not sin against You.

P.S. Advertisement:  We’re praying for 2-3 to join our team next year for JBQ 3rd-6th graders with Hunter, and 4 more for Teen Bible Quiz to join Ving in 6th-12th!!!